Division 1AA

Currently called something ridiculous by the NCAA, D1AA is the college football division that has gotten their act together and created a 16 team playoff to decide the national champion.  Last year's champion Richmond, currently ranked #2, will look to repeat over 3 time champion and giant killer Appalacian St., ranked #1.  Here are some things you should know:

1. There are 8 automatic bids and 8 invitation bids

2. Two conferences, while eligible, choose to abstain; the SWAC and the IVY

3. 7-4 for a tough conference and 8-3 for a mid conference are usually the bubble teams.

4. Starting next year the format will switch to 10 auto bids and 6 invitation.  (Wait you mean we don't need to adjust the size of the tournament just because we're adding an auto bid??  Call NCAA Basketball, we can get rid of that freakin play in game.)

5. There are 144 teams in 14 conferences with 2 independents.

6. The automatic bid conferences are: Big Sky, Colonial, MEAC, Missouri Valley, Ohio Valley, Patriot, Southern, and Southland.

7. Even if you abstain you can still be invited.  A SWAC team has gone every once in a while.

The great news about D1AA is that unlike the other monstrosity every team is right now in contention for a national championship.  Barring the 8 Ivies and the 10 SWACs this is a 126 team league and yes every game matters.  (Remember just because they abstain doesn't mean they wont get an invite if its deserved)

To get a look at the preseason rankings here's a link: http://fcsnow.com/poll.aspx

I don't think its a good one for in season but I'll find one that updates regularly.

How many games don't matter?

At the start of the season 70 teams are still in contention for a national title.  The rest, who cares.  At least thats what the BCS guys would have us believe.  In effect there are many teams out there playing games that don't matter.  Lets take a look at the games that have no relevance on the national title game.

Week 1 22 games

Week 2 13 games

Week 3 15 games

Week 4 18 games

Week 5 18 games

Week 6 19 games

Week 7 21 games

Week 8 20 games

Week 9 19 games

Week 10 16 games

Week 11 23 games

Week 12 20 games

Week 13 20 games

Week 14 3 games

Week 15 1 game

Thats 248 games that have no impact on the BCS championship game.  BEFORE THE SEASON STARTED!!!!!!  Yeah, every game matters.  Yikes.

First look at the new season

Ok everybody, the college football season is right around the corner; and according to the BCS supporters every game counts.  As we all know that is absolute nonsense.  At the beginning of the season unless you are a BCS conference team, or are already in the Top 25 you have no, 0, zilch chance of playing in the national championship game.  That means outside of the 66 teams in the BCS (don't forget Notre Dame) only Boise St., TCU, Utah, and BYU are playing at all meaningful games.  The next team is Nevada at 41 in the USA Today poll.  Lets just say a 12-0 season has Fiesta Bowl written all over it.  While thats great, it's not a national championship.

We're down to 70 teams in the running.  Hey, not too bad.  How many games are already irrelevant though:

Sept 3: Troy @ Bowling Green

Villanova @ Temple

Coastal Carolina @ Kent St.

North Texas @ Ball St.

Sept 4: Tulsa @ Tulane

Sept 5: Central Arkansas @ Hawaii

Appalachian St. @ East Carolina

Nicholls St. @ Air Force

Weber St. @ Wyoming

Rice @ UAB

Southern Illinois @ Marshall

Northwestern St. @ Houston

Samford @ UCF

Southern University @ Louisiana Lafayette

Army @ Eastern Michigan

Alcorn St @ Southern Miss

Mississippi Valley St @ Arkansas St.

Idaho @ New Mexico St.

Stephen F Austin @ SMU

Buffalo @ UTEP

UC Davis @ Fresno St.

Sacramento St @ UNLV

22 out of the 78 games in week one are irrelevant.  I'll revisit it week 2.